Hydrangea plant named &#39;SK2DAMA&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘SK2DAMA’, characterized by its deep red-purple colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/283,728 filed Sep. 9, 2015.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Hydrangea macrophylla

Variety denomination: ‘SK2DAMA’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SK2DAMA’.

The new Hydrangea cultivar is a naturally-occurring sport of Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘Dancing Angel’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,140, characterizedby its pink and red-purple bicolored inflorescences, dark green-coloredfoliage, and compact, upright-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar wasdiscovered as a side shoot and selected during June 2007 in a controlledenvironment in Honjo, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings since June2007 in Honjo, Japan has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproducestrue to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described,firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘SK2DAMA’ as a new and distinctcultivar of Hydrangea plant:

1. Deep red-purple colored inflorescences;

2. Dark green-colored foliage; and

3. Moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarilyflower color. The new cultivar is a solid red-purple color while theparent is pink and red-purple bicolored.

Of the many commercially available Hydrangea cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is MAGICAL Ruby Red ‘Kolmaru’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 25,104. However, in comparison, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Kolmaru’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new cultivar have an inflorescence color that is adifferent shade of red-purple from plants of ‘Kolmaru’;

2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves than plants of‘Kolmaru’; and

3. Plants of the new cultivar are more compact than plants of ‘Kolmaru’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘SK2DAMA’. The plants were approximately one-year old and were grown inone-gallon containers for approximately 7 months in a poly-coveredgreenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch attransplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘SK2DAMA’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘SK2DAMA’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in July 2016 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximatelyone-year old plants produced from softwood cuttings from stock plantsand grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercialpractice. Plants were not grown in acidic conditions. It is known thatthe inflorescences do not turn blue with aluminum sulfate treatments.The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 7months in a poly-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants weregiven one pinch at transplant. During winter months supplemental heatwas provided to maintain temperatures above a minimum of 38° F. (3.3°C.). No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla cultivar SK2DAMA.-   Parentage:    -   -   Parent.—‘Dancing Angel’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,140.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Softwood.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 15 to 20 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 25 to 30            days.        -   Root description.—Medium thickness, fleshy, creamy yellow            11D in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching, moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 14 to 16 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in an 18 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Deciduous shrub,            moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5 (−20° F. to −15° F.).        -   Heat tolerance.—Regularly tolerates temperatures as high as            38° C. in the summer.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 32.0 cm. Width: Approximately 34.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances            branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:            Approximately 2.        -   Branch.—Shape: Rounded. Strength: Strong. Length to base of            inflorescence: Approximately 24.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 5.5 cm. Texture of young stem: Glabrous.            Texture of mature stem: Glabrous. Color of young stem: 144A.            Color of mature stem: 144A, with age becoming woody 200A.        -   Lenticels.—Quantity per internode: Approximately 28. Shape:            Round to elliptic. Size: Approximately 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.            Color: N77A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 10. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Serrated. Apex: Acuminate.            Base: Rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature            leaf: Approximately 9.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 7.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Coriaceous, glabrous. Color of upper surface of young            foliage: Closest to NN137B with an overlay of and margins of            187A venation of 145A. Color of lower surface of young            foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 146D. Color of            upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to NN137A with a            heavy overlay of 187A venation of 145A. Color of lower            surface of mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of            146D.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Seasonal, May through August.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 1.5 months.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single sterile florets arranged            on terminal mophead-type panicle, fertile florets senesce            before opening, reproductive parts lacking an ovary            occasionally observed on sterile florets. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 2. Fragrance: None detected. Aspect:            Facing upward and outward. Height: Approximately 10.0 cm.            Width: Approximately 16.0 cm. Quantity of sterile florets            per inflorescence: Approximately 32.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Rounded. Length:            Approximately 3.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Texture: Pubescent with appressed hairs. Color: 144A.-   Floret description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, sterile.        -   Sterile florets, bud just before opening.—Shape: Globular.            Diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm. Color: 145A.        -   Sterile florets.—Depth: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.8 cm. Corolla: 4 petals, occasionally closed            forming a central eye. Shape: Rotate, cruciform. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Calyx: 4 sepals. Shape: Rotate,            cruciform. Diameter: Approximately 4.8 cm.        -   Petals, sterile florets.—Shape: Ovate when open, otherwise            petals form a center eye of up to 3.0 mm in diameter and 75B            in color. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of            upper and lower surfaces: NN155D with an overlay of 75A.        -   Sepals, sterile florets.—Shape: Broadly obovate. Margin:            Irregularly scalloped. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.            Length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Width: Approximately 2.5 cm.            Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of            upper surface when first open: Base and centers of 145A,            margins of 60C. Color of lower surface when first open: Base            and centers of 145C, margins of 60D. Color of upper surface            when fully open: 59A to 59B tinted with 71A. Color of lower            surface when fully open: 186C.        -   Pedicel, sterile florets.—Strength: Strong. Aspect:            Approximately 45° from peduncle axis. Length: Approximately            2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Sparsely            pubescent with appressed hairs. Color: 137B with a heavy            overlay of 186B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Observed occasionally in the center of            sterile florets, ovary lacking. Androecium: Stamen quantity:            Approximately 10 per floret. Stamen length: Approximately            4.0 mm. Filament color: NN155D. Anther shape: Kidney-shaped,            basally attached. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Anther color: NN155A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color:            NN155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil            length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma            color: NN155D. Style length: Approximately 2.0 mm,            three-lobed. Style color: NN155D with a faint overlay of            75A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Hydrangea has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘SK2DAMA’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 